Brian Hughes was named as the de facto Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Kennedy Space Center by the White House, according to a May 11 announcement. Hughes previously led Trump’s 2024 presidential election campaign in Florida and served as NASA’s Chief of Staff from May to December of 2025. He does not have a background or expertise in space launch systems.
The appointment comes at a significant time for NASA, as global competition in space exploration intensifies. The move has drawn criticism from U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Science Committee, who said, “I am deeply concerned that Brian Hughes, a political hack that has a proven record of harming the agency, has been named the de facto Director of Kennedy Space Center at such a critical time of global consequence for NASA and our leadership in space exploration. It is unconscionable that the White House would bring him back and frustrating that NASA did not bother notifying the Committee in advance of this decision.”
Hughes’ tenure as NASA’s Chief of Staff included implementing Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 Presidential Budget Request before congressional approval, which was detailed by Science Committee Democratic staff in their Minority Staff Report titled Mission Aborted: How NASA Illegally Implemented the President’s Budget Request Without Congressional Approval.
Lofgren continued her criticism: “We are not going to beat China to the Moon by putting a political operative in charge of launching our astronauts into space. Brian Hughes does not possess the background, knowledge, expertise, or temperament to hold a position of such immense responsibility. The leader of Kennedy Space Center, who also has been granted responsibility for Wallops launch operations, must be beyond reproach in both character and competence. It is no place for a former Trump campaign consultant who personally directed the agency’s illegal implementation of the White House budget last year, as the Committee’s oversight recently detailed. This decision is inexcusable. NASA must reverse it immediately.”
Zoe Lofgren is currently serving in Congress representing California’s 18th district after replacing Don Edwards in 1995; she previously served on Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors from 1981 to 1994 and holds degrees from Stanford University and Santa Clara University School of Law,according to U.S. Rep Zoe Lofgren’s office.
